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My finest motorcycle?


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After nearly two months of distractions1, this week I have returned to the important business of riding my motorcyle. I tend to imagine I have mostly owned sports bikes — ZZR600, YZF-R6, Fazer 600, K1200S — but I suppose half have been trailies — TS125X, KLR650, 640 LC4 Supermoto and 950 Supermoto. We Brits seem to obsess about having the fastest bike man has ever known2 but there are in fact speed limits and being bolt upright without a fairing […]

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KTM 950 Supermoto in a Cotswold sunset


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I took a beautiful ride in the Cotswolds this evening on my KTM 950 Supermoto. What a privilege it is to live in such countryside and to have such a magnificent bike: KTM 950 Supermoto in a Cotswold sunset, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker. The roads were superb: open, clear and well-surfaced. I can’t help thinking a blanket 50 mph national speed limit would be met with the same counterproductive contempt as the present motorway speed limit[1]. Thankfully, it appears Theresa […]

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German autobahns — magnificent


There was some congestion and some of the roadworks were lengthy, but for the most part, the autobahn had moderate traffic and no speed limit. Where there was a limit away from hazards, it was 120 kph, which is still 75 mph. On this trip, the roof box kept my speeds down to double digits, but cruising at 90 mph was a joy.  Even with the extra drag, my Saab was still more efficient over this high-speed journey than it […]

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French péages — marvelous


The lightest traffic and a speed limit just over 80 mph: brisk and pleasant.

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Driving and personal responsibility


Two road safety initiatives struck me today: Drivers will have to declare every 10 years whether they are medically able to get behind the wheel, according to proposals to be set out early in the new year. via Drivers to have 10-year health checks under driver licence reforms and: Automatic speed control devices should be installed in cars to force motorists to stick to speed limits, an influential pressure group recommended today. via ‘Speed control’ devices should be installed in […]

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NEC Bike Show 2008: a source of optimism


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The NEC Bike Show provided an interesting, if expensive, hour and a half’s entertainment this morning. It was busy despite the downturn and despite it being Wednesday: people are still looking for a dream. The atmosphere was deliciously politically incorrect, with preposterous bikes and no shortage of models in lycra[1].  Buell‘s bikes remain radical, with their Harley engines in sporty frames, their perimeter brakes and their belt drives:

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Wg Cdr Andy Green: “Is life with zero risk interesting? No.”


A team of British engineers is aiming to break the 1,000mph (1,610km/h) barrier on wheels for the first time. Wing Commander Andy Green, who broke the land speed record in 1997, talks about why he wants to go even faster as the driver of Bloodhound. Watch the video here. I served at RAF Leeming with Andy in 1994: it’s great to see a fighter pilot setting out to inspire engineers.

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Odiham airfield riding day


With a 1200m straight, we achieved over 160 mph. Incredibly, the bike can lose that in less that 200 metres, yet it was suggested to me that I was braking conservatively. At last, I had my knee down in their school for the purpose: it turns out I have been “a fag paper” from it very often. I took a passenger ride on a Formula 1 sidecar outfit. It was exceptionally hard work holding on. I couldn’t keep with it […]

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